Robert Melton, president of Melton Sales and Service in Columbus, NJ, was high bidder on a custom-built cigar humidor at the recent Production Engine Remanufacturers Association’s (PERA) 72nd annual Conference.

The humidor, built by PERA Executive VP Joe Polich, was auctioned off to benefit the Breaking Barriers – Hope Is Alive foundation to bring awareness to the heroin epidemic sweeping this country and to inspire breakthroughs in treating people who suffer from drug addiction by assisting in the recovery process and to educate the community about the disease of addiction.

“We’ve had families within our association who have recently lost loved ones to this terrible addiction,” Polich said “We mourn with them and hope that money raised will shine a positive light on the people working hard to help addicts and families get the help they need.”

The hand-built, custom-designed cigar humidor, made of African mahogany with a mahogany “swirl” veneer and lined with Spanish cedar and trimmed with ebony-like material was finished in an aniline dye mixture of Burnt Sienna & Cardinal Red and top coated with lacquer. It included a hygrometer and humidifying system.

Bidding for the humidor was done by silent auction and the winning bid of $450 was announced at PERA’s end-of-conference beach party at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL.

For more information on Breaking Barriers – Hope Is Aiive, visit nowwefightforyou.com; for more information on PERA, visit www.pera.org.